Being there for Dad

I’m getting close to my dad. A week ago, he was rushed to the hospital from the supermarket with what turned out to be nothing. Sick with the flu, he felt like he was going to fall.

He’s 87, so I felt like this is the red flag I’ve been waiting for to take more care of him. My dad and I are so different. I was a missionary. He lived the American Dream. I love people; he’s a recluse. My life revolved around extending God’s kingdom; his life revolved around HDTV. I was closer to my mom. She’s in Heaven now.

I’ve been sleeping out in the San Fernando Valley to keep him company. I’ve been driving him on his errands. I’m happy that finally I’m able to honor him with this service.

While I was a pastor in Guatemala for 16 years, Matt. 15:5-6 befuddled me. You say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is “devoted to God,” they are not to “honor their father or mother” with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition NIV. That is what I was doing: I couldn’t help Dad and Mom with either money or service because I was serving God in Guatemala.

God brought me back to the States four years ago. I’m only an assistant pastor, so I’m freer now. God orchestrated everything so that I could honor my dad.

Thank God, you, have this chance. I was blessed, My father was a pastor too, and my first call was 80 miles from where he and Mom retired – He was my mentor and reason for entering ministry! He set my feet on the path and kept them there!

Our Love and prayers go out to you and Uncle Roy. We are all different people and God has blessed you with this opportunity to serve him once again and you responded! Through Love all things a possible.

Wow this takes me back a few years when I was taking care of my dad. I thank Jesus I was granted the time with him because he was at the end of his life and he accepted Jesus as his savior.

I was with one of my brothers about 3 months before he was murdered and I witnessed to him. He didn’t accept Jesus at that time but I have some hope that the seed was planted. I won’t know until Jesus calls me home.

Thank God for the time you have to share Jesus with the ones you love.

I’m so glad that you are able to be there for your dad, Mike, especially with Barbara and Donald being so far away. Keep these updates coming, they are appreciated. If you need anything, just reach out we’re here.

Blessings on you as you make good use of this God-given opportunity. My own father died at 64 and my mother at 72, both in America while I was in Japan (though their grave is in Japan), so I didn’t have the privilege you are having now. May our Lord’s love and grace be powerfully on and between the two of you in this time, for however long it is.

It is right to honor your dad. My father passed away 2 years ago on January 18, 2013. My siblings and I took care of our mother (at her age of 54-60) when we all had small children of our own and it was difficult at best but we did it. Now all these years later it was time to return the favors to our dad. He did very well until the last four months and then we were at his home 24/7. I being a polio survivor since age 6 1/2 months in 1948 was visiting with him as he told me he wanted no more diagnosis, no more appointments and no more treatment. After six years of treatment and doctors appointments it was his decision and we all would stand behind him. The journey began. I will never forget that afternoon as I asked him “why did we move back to S.E. Minnesota to farm?” “Because somebody needed to have Doctors appointments” was his answer. At that time of my life I was only 10-11 years of age. Now being 65, I was set back and couldn’t even speak. After all those years he had to tell me something like that. Those days continued to be a struggle and I continued to be there for him every day I was scheduled and held his hand when he had communion and slept right by his bed in a recliner because I can’t walk without my long leg left brace in place. Why did I go time after time? because I still loved the man that had such strong feelings about something I had no control over. You do what you do because you love your dad and so did I. I asked my older sister about that conversation as to why we moved back from up north and she said “Because the farm land was better here.” I never said a word. Blessings in your journey.

MY PARENTS HAVE LIVED WITH ME 13 YEARS BUT MOTHER PASSED AND IT’S JUST DAD AND ME NOW. HE’S 91. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT IF HE HAS TO BE HOSPITALIZED . IT IS A GROWTH INDUSTRY TO BRING IN A SOCIAL WORKER FOR THE ELDERLY TO MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATION ABOUT STATE OR PRIVATE ASSISTED LIVING. THEY CAN TAKE THE PERSON AWAY FROM YOU AND WAREHOUSE THEM TO GET THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY AND OTHER INCOME. IT IS VERY FRIGHTENING. ONCE THE STATE MAKES SUCH ASSESSMENT, UNLESS YOU HAVE $$$ TO FIGHT YOU ARE FAIRLY HELPLESS.